Ottawa Children's Festival

May 10th-14th, 2017

Lebreton Flats

Since 1985, the Ottawa Children’s Festival (OCF) has hosted an annual celebration of the best in live performing arts for children. Creating programs for children aged two to 15, the Festival focuses on enriching school curriculum and promoting the arts as an integral part of children’s education; strives to present work that excites and challenges audiences of all ages; and prides itself on developing and producing award winning programming that comes from across Canada and around the world. Schools, community groups, caregivers and families of children age two to 15 are the target audience of the OICF.

This festival has a lot of great free activities including a climbing wall, an Active Zone, a Construction Zone, A Petting Zoo, Salsa Kids, Archery, Painting and so much more.

They also have some amazing ticketed items not to be missed. For a list of performers click here

Sugar Shacks in Ottawa

Proulx Sugar Bush

• Play parks, giant slide, double slide, and play structures
• Petting farm, touch, feed, learn
• Sugar bush
• Maple production shack
• Brunch
• Farm boutique (maple, honey, and homemade jams)
• Guided tour on the collection and production of maple syrup (approx. 20 min.)
• Sleigh ride from the farm to the sugar bush and back (approx. 20 min.)

Vanier Museoparc

• Maple taffy on the snow! 
• Traditional sugar shacks meals! 
• Farm area and petting enclosure!
• Visit with sled dogs and puppies!
• Bouncy castles and other inflatable structures!
• Craft fair!
• Food trucks!  
• Lumberjack competitions -ax-throwing and two person saw!
• A culinary competition featuring local chefs! 

Fulton’s Pancake House

• Nordic and walking trails
• Snowshoes
• Heritage Maple Path
• Visit the Sugar Camp
• Trail Games
• Breakfast
• Taffy Shack
• Tobogganing Hill

The Log Farm

• Visit to the historical farm site
• See all kinds of animals on the farm site.
• Taffy on the snow.
• Bonfire 
• Wagon ride that will take you out to the sugar bush.
• At the sugar bush, you can not only see how the pioneers would have collected and made maple syrup (it was very important to them) but you will also see maple syrup being made with modern wood fired equipment.
• Collect sap from the trees throughout the bush.
• We will be offering a traditional sugar bush breakfast all day long. Pancakes and sausages all served with maple syrup and butter.
• In our visitor center we will also have an assortment of baked goods, from cookies and squares to butter tarts.
• Top that all off with Van Houtte premium coffees, hot chocolate, or tea along with an assortment of juices and cold drinks and you will not go home hungry.

Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm

• Sleigh ride
• Visit the sugar shack
• Watch the sap to syrup process unfold while enjoying taffy on the snow 
• Pancake brunch at the Pancake House

Temple Sugar Bush

• Pancake house
• Store
• Maple on snow
• Nature trails

Chez Ti-Mousee Cabane a sucre

• Visit the museum
• Watch the creation of maple syrup
• Walking Trails
• Maple Syrup Boutique
• Breakfast

March 4-5th, What's Happening this weekend

March 4
Redb/ Bull Crashed Ice. Downtown Ottawa. More info
The Mom Conference. Beyond Yoga Studio and Wellness Centre. More info
Geeked out Toy and Collectable Sale. Hazeldean Mall. More info
Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre Turns 3! More info
Joie de Vivre. Gatineau. More info
The Hockey Sweater. NAC. More info
Childbirth All or Nothing Free Screening. 223 Main St. More info
Ottawa Senators Autism Awareness Night. Canadian Tire Centre. More info

March 5
Baby Wearing for Dads. 779 Bank St. More info
Milkface Hosts Momzelle. Milkface. More info
Spiderman Party. Stittsville. More info
Zoo Crew Toddler Class. Osgoode. More info

Ottawa Family Fun This Weekend

February 25

Disney on Ice. Canadian Tire Centre. More info

Let's Tap some Trees. Vanier Museopark. More info

Winter Market. Shenkman Art Centre. More info

RCMP Open House. RCMP Stables. More info

5th Annual Carleton Place Winter Carnival. Carleton Place. More info

Family Yoga. Little Lotus Yoga. More info

Bookfest. Elmdale Public School. More info

February 26

Disney on Ice. Canadian Tire Centre. More info

Superhero and Princess Party. Boston Pizza Rockland. More info

Bookfest. Elmdale Public School. More info

Mommy Baby Yoga. Your Fit MindBody. More info

RCMP Open House

Join us at the 2017 RCMP Musical Ride Open House and Food Drive

FREE ADMISSION & PARKING

• Meet the riders and horses 
• Tour the Musical Ride Centre 
• Enjoy exciting children’s activities
• See police displays and demonstrations 

MAKE A DONATION TO THE OTTAWA FOOD BANK!

The Musical Ride Centre is located at 1 Sandridge Road.

For more information, see rcmp.ca/-W2h

Family Day Weekend Events

February 18

• Family Fun Fair. Midway Adventureland. More info
• Winterlude. Downtown Ottawa. More info
• Hop on Pop Dads Playgroup. Rural Family Connections. More info
• Snow Blast 2017. Elizabeth Manley Park. More info
• Carlingwood Indoor Winter Carnival. More info
• Meet and Greet with Cinderella. Barrhaven Indigo. More info
• Central Park Mini Winterlude. Central Park. More info
• Meet Anna and Elsa at Winterlude. Snowflake Kingdom. More info
• Morning Mommy Mixer. buybuy Baby. More info

February 19

• Winterlude. Downtown Ottawa. More info
• Festival des jeux gonflables. Rockland. More info
• Surf's Up Beach Themed Day. Goulbourn Museum. More info
• Monkey Around Turns 5. Monkey Around Ottawa. More info
• Fete de la Familie. Navan. More info
• Family Fun Night. Aquaview Community Centre. More info
• Family Dinner and a Movie. ALE Stittsville. More info

February 20

• Winterlude. Downtown Ottawa. More info
• Festival des jeux gonflables. Rockland. More info
• Family Day. Agriculture Museum. More info
• Kemptville Family Day. Kemptville. More info
• Family Day at Midway. Midway.More info
• Family Day at the Aviation Museum. More info
• Family Fun Day at Maple Ridge Community Centre. More info
• Family Skate Day. Mlacak Arena. More info
• Family Day at the Arcade. House of Targ. More info
• Annual Family Day Winter Carnival. Pushman Park. More info
• Skate for a cure. Ben Franklin Place. More info
• Family Day Skate. Minto Recreation. More info
• Family Day Monkey Rock Concert. The Brass Monkey. More info
• Family Fun Day. Altavista Outdoor Rink. More info
• Royal Skating at Rideau Hall. More info

75 Ideas to keep the kids busy in winter

Great ideas to keep your kids moving and avoid hearing "I'm Bored" on cold winter days. You can print them and place them in a jar and pull them out as you need it, pick a few as a family that you would like to try. 

1. Skating
2. Bake Cookies
3. Go Fish
4. Hand Puppets
5. Build a snowman
6. Homemade Playdoh
7. Madlibs
8. Edible Snowflakes
9. Cotton Ball Painting
10. Crepe Paper Maze
11. BINGO
12. Glowing Bath
13. Moon Sand
14. Feed the Birds
15. Scavenger Hunt
16. Family Yoga
17. Magic Milk
18. Giant puzzle
19. Snow painting with food colouring and water
20. Homemade Eggnog
21. Hide and Go Seek (inside or out)
22. Charades
23. Pictionary
24. Homemade Crayons
25. Karaoke (can play online)
26. Musical Chairs
27. Snow Paint
28. Balloon Volleyball
29. Start reading a novel
30. Snow Volcano
31. Build a Fort
32. Magazine Collage
33. Paper Mache
34. Plant a seed
35. Blow paint through a straw
36. Make and paint a pasta necklace
37. Make a band with household items
38. Tea Party
39. Have a talent show
40. Make a movie
41. Make a scrapbook
42. Learn oragami
43. Make a paper lantern
44. Play Dress Up
45. Hot Potatoe
46. Puppet Show
47. Memory Game
48. Make placemats
49. Homemade Pizza and Pizza Party
50. Coloured Rice Sensory Play
51. Masking Tape Hopscotch
52. Soap Clouds
53. Salt Sculptures
54. Window Painting
55. I Spy
56. Simon Says
57. 20 questions
58. Skype a friend or family member
59. Hangman
60. Gak
61. Balloon Pop
62. Crazy 8s
63. Finger Painting
64. Ring Toss
65. Freeze Dance
66. Draw Portraits of one another
67. Make milkshakes or smoothies
68. Indoor Picnic
69. Make Jam or Applesauce
70. Make a Lava Lamp
71. Candy Land
72. Sledding
73. Watch an old movie 
74. Paint with shaving cream in the shower
75. Make a loaf of bread

Things to do Dec 17-18th, 2016

Dec 17th

• The Christmas Adventure. Shenkman Arts Centre. More info
• Glebe Winter Market. 175 Third Ave. More info
• Elves of the Estate. Billings Historic Estate. More info
• Ugly Sweater Party. Art Haven. More info
• Joy to the World Christmas Concert. More info

Dec 18th

• The Christmas Adventure. Shenkman Arts Centre. More info
• Children's Christmas Party. Monkey Around Play Centre. More info
• A Frozen Tea Party. Stittsville. More info
• Maple Ridge Christmas Celebration. Chesterville. More info
• Skate with Santa. Beckwith. More info
• Family Christmas Spectacular. St Josephs Parish. More info

Things to do Dec 10-11th

Dec 10th

• Dec 10- Holiday Parkdale Pop-Up. More info
• Dec 10-Holiday Gift and Craft Fair (10-2). Leroux Arena, Stittsville
• The Nutcracker. Algonquin Theatre. More info
• Pancakes with Santa. Stittsville Legion. More info
• Wakefield Christmas Market. Wakefield. More info
• Holiday Craft. Beaverbrook Library. More info
• Sesame Street Live. More info
• Kids Sewing Party. More info
• Pancakes with Santa. More info
• The Addams Family- A New Musical. More info
• Place d'Orleans Princess Meet and Greet. More info
• Smith Falls Santa Claus Parade. More info
• Carp Christmas Parade. More info

Dec 11th

• Dec 11- Christmas at Rideau Highschool Craft Fair. More info
• The Nutcracker. Algonquin Theatre. More info
• Holiday at the Parks. Wesley Clover Parks. More info
• Festival of Carols. Centrepointe. More info
• Nepean Christmas. Nepean Museum. More info
• The Addams Family- A New Musical. More info
• Holiday at the Parks. More info
• White Christmas at the Mayfair. More info
• Christmas Shop with Yo Pants off. More info ~~~~ Online shopping event with all local vendors!!!

Events Dec 2-4th, 2016

Dec 2

• Gift of Lights. Wesley Clover Park. More info
• Carp Christmas Market. 3790 Carp rd. More info
• Christmas in Old- Aylmer. More info
• Christmas Tree Lighting. Bells Corners. More info
• Light Up the Night. Mississippi Mills. More info
• Christmas in the Village. Osgoode. More info
• Adeste Fideles. Trinity United Church. More info
• Nutcracker Ballet. NAC. More info

Dec 3

• Gift of Lights. Wesley Clover Park. More info
• Carp Christmas Market. 3790 Carp rd. More info
• Christmas in Old- Aylmer. More info
• Christmas in the Village. Osgoode. More info
• Breakfast with Santa. Merrickville. More info
• Westport Christmas Market. Westport. More info
• Woodroffe Highschool Craft Fair. More info
• Holiday Party with the Animals at Penny Lane. Penny Lane Farm Sanctuary. More info
• RSCA Sleigh Rides. Rideauview Community Centre. More info
• Nutcracker Ballet. NAC. More info
• Old Fashioned Christmas in Manotick. More info
• North Pole Express. Smith Falls. More info
• Breakfast with Santa. Woodlawn. More info
• Holiday Puppet Show. Ruth E. Dickinson Library. More info
• Winter Holiday Family Program. North Gloucestor. More info
• Annual Mayor Christmas Party. City Hall. More info
• Osgoode Christmas Village. More info
• Letters to Santa. Ottawa Archives. More info
• A Downtown Christmas Open House. More info
• Santa Shuffle. More info
• Barrhaven Christmas Gift Fair and Fundraiser. More info
• Santa's Christmas Door. More info
• Aylmer Santa Claus Parade. More info
• Craftilicious. More info
• MAC Fair Cheer. More info
• Cummerland Christmas Market. More info
• Pancake Breakfast and Vendor Sale. Aylmer. More info
• Fisher Park Christmas Craft Show. More info
• Home for the Holiday Craft Sale. Hazeldean Mall. More info
• Freewheeling Christmas Craft Maket. Glebe. More info
• Santa Photos for Charity. More info
• Noel a la Place de Cite. Gatineau. More info
• Parade of Lights. Limoges. More info
• Procare Family Centre Grand Opening. More info
• 2nd Annual Christmas Gift Fair and Fundraiser for Jonathan Pitre. More info

Dec 4

• Holiday Market. Nepean. More info
• Gift of Lights. Wesley Clover Park. More info
• Christmas in Old- Aylmer. More info
• Stonebridge Children's Christmas Party. Stonebridge Golf and Country Club. More info
• Critter Christmas Holiday Family Event. Ottawa Humane Society. More info
• Nutcracker Ballet. NAC. More info
• Old Fashioned Christmas in Manotick. More info
• Breakfast with Santa at Carlingwood Mall. More info
• Home for the Holiday Craft Sale. Hazeldean Mall. More info
• Christmas Carol Service. King Edward Ave. More info
• A Christmas Celebration. Shenkman's Art Centre. More info
• Breakfast with Santa. Chelsea. More info
• Freewheeling Christmas Craft Maket. Glebe. More info
• Ukrainian Christmas Bazaar. More info
• Breaksfast with Santa. Carlingwood. 

Mall Santa Schedule

Events November 12-13th

Nov 12

• Ottawa Pet Expo. EY Centre. More info
• Kanata Santa Claus Parade. Hazeldean Mall. More info
• Story Time Saturday. Stittsville. More info
• 613 Christmas. Landsdowne Park. More info
• Christmas Pet Portraits. Gloucester Pet Value. More info
• Kids Sewing Class. Clozette by Faiza. More info
• KinderNACO-Winderful Musical Zoo. Shenkman Arts Centre. More info

Nov 13

• Ottawa Pet Expo. EY Centre. More info
• 4th Annual World Premie Day Event. Ottawa Hospital. More info
• Baby Day in Hintonburg. Iron North Studio. More info
• Make a wreath and storytime. Indigo Barrhaven. More info
• Parent and Child Paint Night. Boston Pizza Rockland. More info
• Pup Patrol Lunch. Boston Pizza Barrhaven. More info
• Meet Redblack's Connor Williams. Senate Sports Tavern. More info

Mall Santa Schedule
Ottawa Craft Fair Schedule

Christmas Bucket List

Ottawa Area Holiday Craft Sales

• Nov 3-6-Christmas Craft Show. Nepean Sportsplex. More info
• Nov 5- Something New in Edinburg. Memorial Hall. More info
• Nov 5- All Saints Christmas Craft Show. Kanata. More info
• Nov 5-6-Deep River Craft Show. (11-4) Mckenzie High School

• Nov 12- Parkdale Pop Up. More info
• Nov 12- Park Place Christmas Bazaar. More info
• Nov 12- Rockland Holiday Bazaar. More info
• Nov 12/13- Book and Bake Sale. Armprior. More info
• Nov 13- Cantebury Christmas Craft Sale. More info
• Nov 13- Tudor Hall Christmas Craft Sale. More info
• Nov 13- 4th Annual Christmas in the Valley Craft and Vendor Show (10-3) Petawawa Civic Centre

• Nov 17- Shopping Made Easy. Jockvale Elementary School. More info
• Nov 18-Navan Arts and Crafts Group Christmas Craft Sale. More info
• Nov 18- Holiday Shopping Expo. More info
• Nov 19- Manotick Christmas Fair. More info
• Nov 19- Gowling Christmas and Craft Sale. More info
• Nov 19-Holiday Season Bazaar. Gatineau. More info
• Nov 19- Thoncliff Place Bake sale and Bazaar. More info
• Nov 19-BFRC Holiday Crafter & Vendor Show. 76 Larkin, Barrhaven
• Nov 19- Hintonburg Craft Fair. More info
• Nov 19- Ravines Christmas Bazaar.(9-1). 626 Prado Private
• Nov 20- Tudor Hall Christmas Craft Sale. More info

• Nov 26- Christmas Pop Up Shop. Best Western Kanata. More info
• Nov 26- Craft Fair by Nerds. More info
• Nov 26- St. Michael's Christmas Craft Sale. More info
• Nov 26-First Avenue Holiday Craft Sale. More info
• Nov 26- Mistletoe & Ivy Handmade Market Ottawa. More info
• Nov 26- St Barnabas Christmas Bazaar. More info
• Nov 26-27- Seasons Greetings Craft Sale. (10-4) Stittsville Community Centre. 
• Nov 26- Christmas Bazaar. Barrhaven United Church. More info
• Nov 27- Sawmill Creek Christmas Extravaganza. More info
• Nov 27- The little Christmas Market. More info
• Nov 28-Christmas Craft and Artisan Market. More info

• Dec 3- Christmas Gift Fair. Walter Baker Community Centre. More info
• Dec 3- Craftilicious. More info
• Dec 3- MAC Fair Cheer. More info
• Dec 3- Cummerland Christmas Market. More info
• Dec 8-18- Originals Ottawa Christmas Craft Show. EY Centre. More info
• Dec 10- Holiday Parkdale Pop-Up. More info
• Dec 10-Holiday Gift and Craft Fair (10-2). Leroux Arena, Stittsville
• Dec 11- Christmas at Rideau Highschool Craft Fair. More info

Mom on the Go's Book Launch Party

Halloween Events Ottawa

17 Halloween Pinterest Hacks

1. Monster Doors

Events for October 15-16th

October 15th

Thanksgiving Events

October 8

• Fall Rhapsody. Gatineau Park. Free. More info
• $ Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info
• Sausage Fest. Byward Market. More info
• Pumpkin Sale and Thanksgiving Festival. Brantwood Park. More info
• Colourfest. Mont Cascade. More info
• Indigo Kids, Paint your own Pumpkin. Indigo Barrhaven. More info
• Great Hope Hootenanny. Lone Star Ranch. More info
• Butterfly Show. Carleton University. More info
• Thanksgiving Weekend at the Agriculture Museum. More info

October 9

• Fall Rhapsody. Gatineau Park. Free. More info
• $ Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info
• Sausage Fest. Byward Market. More info
• Colourfest. Mont Cascade. More info
• Lavendar Ridge Annual Vendange Celebration. Luskville. More info
• Festival of Colours. Mont-Ste-Marie. More info
• Butterfly Show. Carleton University. More info
• Thanksgiving Weekend at the Agriculture Museum. More info

October 10

• Fall Rhapsody. Gatineau Park. Free. More info
• $ Pumpkinferno. Upper Canada Village. More info
• Sausage Fest. Byward Market. More info
• Butterfly Show. Carleton University. More info
• Thanksgiving Weekend at the Agriculture Museum. More info

Things to do September 16-18th 2016

September 16

• City Folk. September 15-19th. Landsdowne Park. More info
• Brockville Tallships Festival. September 16th-19th. Brockville. More info
• Kanata Fall and Winter Consignment Sale. September 16-19th. Bell Sensplex. More info
• Movie in the Park. Byward Market. September 16th. More info
• Movie in the Park. Carleton Place. September 16th. More info
• Richmond Fair. Richmond. September 16-18th. More info

September 17

• Indigo Kids Paw Patrol Event. Pincrest, Kanata and Barrhaven. September 17th. More info
• A Taste of Wellington. September 17th. Wellington. More info
• Batman Day. Indigo Barrhaven. September 17th. More info
• City Folk. September 15-19th. Landsdowne Park. More info
• Brockville Tallships Festival. September 16th-19th. Brockville. More info
• Kanata Fall and Winter Consignment Sale. September 16-19th. Bell Sensplex. More info
• Russell Flea Market. September 17th. Russell. More info
• West End Kids Fun Day. September 17th. West End Kids. More info

September 18

• City Folk. September 15-19th. Landsdowne Park. More info
• Family Picnic. Carleton Place. September 18th. More info
• Brockville Tallships Festival. September 16th-19th. Brockville. More info
• Kanata Fall and Winter Consignment Sale. September 16-19th. Bell Sensplex. More info

Daily Events for September

Mondays

• Starr Gymnastics FREE baby drop-in. 12:30pm. Orleans
• Chapters Storytime. 11am daily (must be enough children). Rideau Centre. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Pinecrest. 10am. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Kanata. 10am. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Barrhaven. 10:30am. FREE
• Strollercise Bank st. 10:15am. FREE

Tuesdays

• Starr Gymnastics FREE baby drop-in. 12pm. Morrison
• Starr Gymnastics FREE baby drop-in. 1pm. Lancaster
• Chapters Storytime. 11am daily (must be enough children). Rideau Centre. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Pinecrest. 10am. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Kanata. 10am. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Barrhaven. 10:30am. FREE
• Strollercise Gatineau. 10:30am. FREE
• Strollercise Kanata. 10am. FREE
• Strollercise Barrhaven. 10am. FREE

Wednesdays

• $ Stars and Strollers Scotiabank Theatre. 1pm. More info.
• Global Dance Party Kids. Glebe Memorial Park. 9-11am. FREE
• Chapters Storytime. 11am daily (must be enough children). Rideau Centre. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Pinecrest. 10am. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Kanata. 10am. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Barrhaven. 10:30am. FREE
• Strollercise Orleans. 10am. FREE

Thursdays

• $ Stars and Strollers Barrhaven. 1pm. More info
• Free Museum Night in Ottawa. FREE. Check your local museum for details.
• Chapters Storytime. 11am daily (must be enough children). Rideau Centre. FREE
• Chapters Storytime. 10am. Southkeys. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Pinecrest. 10am. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Kanata. 10am. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Barrhaven. 10:30am. FREE
• Strollercise Westboro. 10am. FREE

Fridays

• Chapters Storytime. 11am daily (must be enough children). Rideau Centre. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Pinecrest. 10am. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Kanata. 10am. FREE
• Chapters Storytime Barrhaven. 10:30am. FREE

Saturdays

• $ Cineplex Family Favourites. Coliseum. More info

Drop In Schedules

Longfields Ontario Early Years Centre Drop in Schedule
West Nepean Ontario Early Years Centre Drop in Schedule
Andrew Fleck Centre Drop in Schedule
Mothercraft Schedule
Ottawa Public Library Schedule